J-pop Idol Leaves Political Post in Less Than 2 Hours – Here’s Why

Former Morning Musume Member
Sets Record for Shortest Tenure as Japanese Lawmaker
Resigns Immediately After Inheriting Proportional Representation Seat

A former member of the famous Japanese idol group Morning Musume has set a record for the briefest stint as a Japanese lawmaker, resigning only 93 minutes after receiving her councilor qualification.

According to local Japanese media, Sayaka Ichii, a member of the second generation of Morning Musume, had her resignation approved by the council’s plenary session on April 26.

Ichii ran for a proportional representation seat in the House of Councillors in 2019 as a member of the former Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan but failed to win a seat.

However, she automatically inherited the proportional representation seat when Genki Sudo, one rank above her, decided to run in a by-election for the House of Representatives on April 28.

Upon learning of her inheritance, she expressed her intention to resign. However, since the current party has no authority to change the order of the former Constitutional Democratic Party, she submitted her resignation immediately after inheriting the seat.

Ichii’s tenure lasted only 93 minutes, making her the shortest-serving politician in Japanese constitutional history, with the previous record being 31 days.

The Constitutional Democratic Party stated, “Even if the tenure does not last a day, a salary of 76,000 yen (approximately $700) is paid. Ichii is considering donating the salary.”

Ichii, a member of the second generation of Morning Musume that debuted in 1998, has retired and returned to the entertainment industry several times. She joined the Constitutional Democratic Party in 2019, and the following year, the party dissolved and merged with the Democratic Party for the People.